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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
between the public and their mouthpiece as well as the linkage between the public and all political parties will be weakened, which will in turn confine the development of political parties. As a matter of fact, it is detrimental not only to the development of political parties but also to the implementation of "One country, Two systems" and "a high degree of autonomy", the success of which hinges upon the keen involvement of the community at large. Curbing the development of political parties and weakening the interaction among the public, the public's mouthpiece and political parties would inevitably dampen the public's interest in political participation, and in the long run adversely affect the implementation of “One country, Two systems" and the attainment of "a high degree of autonomy". The realization of these goals should not be only at the mercy of the authority in Beijing. The public's support is also essential.
When briefing the media on the Council's work at the end of last year, Mr. LEUNG Ding-bong, as the Chairman of the Council, said that "we will be drifting along - just like a monk who keeps on performing rituals for the dead day by day". However, as far as I know, performing rituals for the dead is not a daily routine of the monks. It is performed only by invitation. And hermits who devote themselves to the meditation of mind would not bother to take up such work. Hence, the correct expression should be "just like the bells are tolled by the monks day by day, our work goes on everyday". Despite that tolling bells is a day-to-day work of the monks, pacifying the dead and tolling bells refer to some passive and dull routine. I hope Mr. LEUNG Ding-bong's expression only reflects that there is something wrong with his diction, but not his perspective on this issue. No matter how Hong Kong will become, I deeply respect all colleagues who have made strenuous effort to protest against the disbandment of the two Municipal Councils. Whether we will be Urban Councillors in future is insignificant, those adhering closely to their principles are indeed worthy of respect.
These are my remarks.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman,
Regarding the three-tier councils, it was not too long ago that we often heard the Government talk about the merits of the three-tier structure and representative government. It is a pity that in less than 2 years after the reunification, we are now facing a discontinuation of our service for the public. I was scheduled to deliver my speech the day before yesterday but I was held up by sore throat, so I am speaking today. I have prepared a great deal of information for my speech, but being one of the last speakers of this Debate, I am not going to present it to you because I would only be repeating other Councillors' material. However, talking about the three-tier structure, I don't understand why the regional level of representative government has to be abolished hastily only a year or so after the reunification. We all know that District Boards are and will always be advisory bodies. It is absolutely